New interesting progressive non PA bands!

- As a huge Hammond freak I got more and more impressed during the Beardfish gig on the first Symforce Festival, that young guy Rikard Sjöblom (who also plays guitar and sings) knows how to play the Hammond organ (I was told by other Hammond freak ‘Herman The Mellotron Man’), what a wonderful sound and how enthousiastic he performs! When a friend told me that Rikard his other musical project Bootcut was planned to play later that day I was on the first row half an hour before the show! Well, that gig was great and halfway I decided to sneak quickly a Bootcut CD on the Beardfish merchandising stand.

- Bootcut has released 3 albums and this one entitled De Fluff is the second (from 2004). The band is a duo featuring Rikard Sjöblom (Hammond B3 organ, Nord Electro2 and ARP Pro Solist synthesizer) and Petter Diamant (drums and percussion) with additional musicians on woodwind – and brass instruments, guitar and contrabass. In general the 12 melodic and accessible compositions sound fluent and swinging with strong echoes from jazz (Bootcut often played in jazz clubs) but also rock and blues. Their music often brings late Sixties and early Seventies bands to my mind like The Spencer Davis Group (after Eddie Hardin had replaced Stevie Windwood who had just founded Traffic), Hardin & York (also a Hammond/drums duo), Brian Auger and Trace. And of course late Sixties fellow Swedish band Hansson & Karlson but less complex, less soloing and more keyboard variation like the synthesizer in Quintus Quest, the clavinet in Funck The Living Dead and the Fender Rhodes electric piano in the bluesy Istället För Att Jag Kom Till Skogen Kom Skogen Till Mig. Although Rikard plays less self-indulgent, we can enjoy some swirling and propulsive work like in Fresh Free Fruit (funky sound), Funck the Living Dead, Hang Em High and especially in Crazy Cookie where he freaks out, goose bumps! The interplay between Rikard and Petter is strong and often dynamic. In some songs we can welcome guest musicians on guitar, flute, trombone and saxophone, it give the music a pleasant extra dimension. A funny track is the final song Mutta, a swinging blend of organ, guitar and Turntables (by D-Cuts), that sound of playing LP’s with the hand, quite original in prog!

- This is a very tasteful CD that will please the Hammond organ freaks.

Info: http://www.nojestorget.se/artist_9326.html

CREPUSCULE – L’Hymne A La Vie (****)

- This is a German band, rooted in 1984 and founded by the brothers Franco and Gerald Rouvinez, both born in the French part of Switzerland. The absolute highight in their long history is a joint performance with the legendary French progrock band Ange. In 1996 Crépuscule released their debuut CD entitled Les Lunes Se Lèvent that contains a blend of rock and French ‘chansons’, followed by the ‘unplugged’ CD Signe De Vie with old and new songs. And now we can enjoy the new album L’Hymne A La Vie, first part of a musical project, the next album will be released within 3 years.

Info:

http://crepuscule.hyperroad.de/news/news.html

http://www.myspace.com/crepusculeofficial

Genre: Eclectic Prog

GALLERY – Jas Grippen (***)

- This is a new Norwegian five piece band, their debut CD entitled Jas Grippen is released this year (2007). The music reminde me of their progrock neighbours Anekdoten because of the melancholical vocals and the dynamics between the mellow parts and fluent rhythms. But Gallery sounds more raw and but not Mellotron drenched, in fact you can categorize it as melodic rock with progressive tendencies.

- Gallery plays tight and powerful, especially in the songs with fluent rhythms and propulsive guitar work, accompanied by an adventurous rhythm-section. The guitarplay is tasteful (from relaxed twanging chords to fiery and howling soli) and the keyboards sound functional but varied and pleasant (from piano and organ to even some violin-Mellotron. This band has chosen for tastefully arranged compositions instead of complexity and many soli. If you like melodic rock with progressive ideas, this is a band to check out.

Info: http://myspace.com/gallerytunes

MASS MEDIA – Criptoidea (****)

- Italian formation Mass Media made music in the Seventies but they have reunited because the label Electromantic invited the band to make a new album, the current line-up features three original members.

- The CD Criptoidea contains 13 songs, four have (Italian) vocals, the rest is instrumental. The music often delivers swinging and fluent jazzrock (echoes from Mahavishnu Orchestra and Brand X) with lots of guitar and Fender Rhodes electric piano (along Hammond organ and synthesizers) and a very adventurous, often propulsive rhythm-section. I am impressed by the musicians their skills and interplay, it’s obvious they are very experienced and know each other very well in musical terms. I am delighted about the parts in which the guitar is supported by strings/ a propulsive rhythm-section and the duels between guitar and keyboards, what an energy. The final composition Suite Del Ringraziamento is a tribute to some classical composers and keyboardists Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson. It is recorded live in the studio and contains short renditions of compositions by Bach (Badinerie and Preludio), Mozart (Rondo A La Turca), Bernstein (America), Brubeck (Blue Rondo A La Turk), Copland (Hoedown) and Wakeman (Catherine Howard). We can enjoy sparkling piano and fiery guitar and great interplay between guitar and keyboards, remarkably is the fiery electric guitar in Hoedown instead of the fat synthesizer sound.

- I am sure this CD wil please many jazzrock fans, what a stunning band and what an exciting CD!

Info:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=10427520

http://www.massmediaband.com/risorse/multimedia.asp

SZKITIA – Ketezer Eves Enek (***)

- This is a new Hungarian band that delivers a pleasant and melodic blend of prog and folk. I general the focus is on the vocals (male and female, several duo’s and many voal harmonies) and the songs sound simple but pleasant featuring some keyboards (organ, piano, soaring keyboards), strong electric guitar play (from propulsive riffs and sensitive runs to fiery wah-wah) and especially a lush folk sound by (thanks to Hungarian proghead Norbert):

-furulyák=flutes, rather a folky flute than the likes used in a symphonic orchestra or by Thijs Van Leer for instance.

- töröksíp is probably equal with tárogató, a very old woodwind instrument with a rather powerful sound

- torokének is a weird kind of singing similar with shaman chantings.

- doromb is Jew's harp, a small instrument

Because of the Hungarian language and the rocky element, the recent Omega comes to my mind but in general it sounds as an original and pleasant blend of prog and folk.

TRAUMPFAD – Die Kreise Schliessen Sich (***1/5)

- The German quintet Traumpfad was founded in the late Nineties and exists in their recent line-up since 2003. In 2004 they released their eponymous debut-CD and two years later we can enjoy this second effort. Because of the German vocals the music reminds me of early Novalis and the album Wer Will? by Anabis. Their music is rooted in the melodic rock tradition but the frequent shifting moods, surprising breaks and frequent use of keyboards turnes this band into an interesting band for progheads.

- The nine compositions sound elaborate and tasteful featuring lots of variety, strong soli on guitar and keyboards, a dynamic rhythm-section and good vocals. The one moment you hear a fluent rhythm with fat synthesizer flights, propulsive guitar riffs and fiery guitar play, the other moment yoiuare carried away by classical piano, sensitive guitar or a dreamy climate with fragile piano and romantic vocals. My favorite tracks on this CD are Der Kreislauf Beginnt (propulsive with heavy guitar and bombastic keyboards and a final part with captivating interplay between keyboards and guitar), Der Nächste Winter Kommt Bestimmt (alternating featuring a wonderful grand finale with organ, dynamic drums and fiery guitar), Totes Meer (a beautiful, very sensitive guitar solo loaded with howling runs), the exciting and strongly build-up titletrack (spectacular keyboards, a wonderful, dreamy break with a lush strings-sound and violin-Mellotron and again a howling guitar solo) and the final track Ein Neuer Tag: first a dreamy part, then more and more compelling, culminating in a 24-carat symphonic prog closing section featuring moving work on keyboards and guitar, Progheaven!

- I am delighted about this pleasant and dynamic debut-CD and it sounds original, also because of the German vocals, recommended!

Info: http://www.traumpfad.info/

VLAD V

- Here’s a Brasilian quartet that was founded in ’86, the name is derived from a hero in the Roman history. The band is Jean Carlo (vocals, flute, guitar, violin, banjo and harmonica), Beto Luciani (guitar and violin), Claudio Reif (bass), Jairson Dorigatti (keyboards and accordeon) and Flavio Theilacher (keyboards and percussion). It lasted until the early Nineties to make a serie of records: “Vlad V” (’94), “Espada e o dragao” (’96), “O quinto sol” (’99) and “Volume IV” (2003). The most obvious influences are JETHRO TULL and FOCUS (swirling fluteplay) but in general their sound is quite unique with passionate Portuguese vocals.

- The third album “O quinto sol” is a pleasant blend of several styles (folk, blues, rock, prog) with the use of many instruments (violin, flute, acoustic – and electric guitars, bandolin, mouth-organ). The compositions are melodic and alternating, from dreamy with folky instruments till up-tempo with heavy guitarwork.

The fourth album “Volume IV” is in the vein of the third but has more hints from JETHRO TULL (even some covers). Most of the compositions sound pleasant with many shifting moods (even an Eastern climate) but some heavier tracks lack fresh ideas, a bit too much from the same. Nonetheless this is a promising progrock band.

Info:

http://www.vladv.com.br/

Genre: Eclectic Prog 

WHITE CHAPEL – Le Masque D’Arlequin (***)

- The sound from this French five piece on their debut CD entitled Le Masque D’Arlequin reminds me of the ‘Vikings’ of Europe: fluent rhythms featuring propulsive guitar riffs, a heavy rhythm-section and symptuous keyboard layers with lots of room for biting guitar runs and flashy synthesizer flights. But White Chapel has a less polished and more adventurous approach than Europe. The vocals are in French, I am not surprised that in the booklet he mentions Christian Dechamps, singer of the legendary French progrock band Ange. Between the mainly fluent, heavy and bombastic inspired tracks, we can also trace some mellow songs like the dreamy Elixer and the compelling Sarajevo (from the former Yugoslavia), you can feel the emotion about the sad history in the howling runs!

Although White Chapel sounds quite heavy, I won’t describe it as a progmetal band, to me it sounds more as a blend of ‘Gothic’, prog and hardrock/heavy metal, very tasteful and exciting. My rating: 3 stars

Info: http://whitechapel.wifeo.com/multimedia.php

31PROJECTS – THE MUSIC (***)

(2006, 49.12, Indigo Music SCD 30.014)

- This CD is part of a project about the Holocaust by Gerald Krampl. On his site (see below) you can get information and have a look at the story behind this project and at 31 horrible pictures from the poor Jewish people in the concentration camps including the experiments by the psychopatic doctor Mengele. Gerald says that “he has started this project because he is afraid that the Holocaust will fall into oblivion and that only few people will visit the concentration camp memorial place”. He is busy for more than two years on this project, I hope it will succeed, this review is a small contribution. The music on this CD contains 16 tracks featuring melancholical piano play (“Arrival” and “Tristesse”), ominous strings and deep bass chords on piano (“Deathtrains” and “Crematory”, both songs very compelling and lots of tension), an electronic climate and propulsive drumbeats in “Industrial Slavery” and slow synthesizer flights and wonderful strings in “A New Day Dawning” . Although the atmospheres on the 16 songs are a bit similar (dark, melancholical, sad), I am impressed by the way the music succeeds to evoke emotion and images from that awful period (Hitler’s Nazi regime, early Thirties-1945). I advise you to take a look at the 31 pictures on Gerald his site and then listen to this album ... it will let you think about what’s most important in life: learning from the past!

www.31Projects.at

MARK VARNEY PROJECT – TRUTH IN SHREDDING ****

(1990/2003, 55.13,  Tone Center/Mascot-Provogue Records TC 40302)

- This CD is a ‘heaven on earth’ for the jazzrock aficionados: the two awarded maestro’s  Frank Gambale (Best Fusion Player ’89) and Allan Holdsworth (Best Guitar Synthesist in ’89) teamed up and recorded this splendid jazzrock record in 1990. Backed by the experienced and acclaimed rhythm section Jimmy Earl (bass) and Tom Brechtlein (drums) and supported by sax player Steve Tavaglione and keyboardist Freddy Ravel, the two virtuosic guitarplayers showcases their ‘scale-acrobatics’ during the seven instrumentals tracks (mostly covers from the Brecker Brothers, Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea). In some tracks Allan plays his known and unique Synthaxe (it sounds like a synthesizer with pitchbend) but in general we can enjoy from his dynamic, violin-like guitarplay. The most impressive tracks is “The fall” with great solo’s on acoustic – and electric guitar, saxophone and spectacular sounds from the Synthaxe. Don’t expect refined compositions, this CD contains a kind of jams with a live atmosphere (99% is live according to the info sheet). So if you’re up to typical instrumental jazzrock with dazzling guitarsolo’s (like John McLaughlin or Al DiMeola), this CD is yours.

Info: [email protected] 

OMNI – MERMAIDS  (***)

(2006, 42.13, Metal Mind Productions MMP CD 0436)

- This is a Polish musical project, originally rooted in the Eighties by the trio Marceli Latoszek (keyboards)), Rafal Blazejewski (cello and synthesizers) and Gerard Sawicki (noises). They were fascinated by ELP and decided to a further exploration of symphonic prog but later they switched to electronic music in the vein of early Klaus Schulze and more experimental and  complex music.In 1983 Omni performed at a festival in East Poland and in 1985 the band released their eponymous debut LP but two years they disbanded. In 2002 Omni re-stsarted in order to work on the CD re-edition of their early material and in 2006 they even produced brandnew material. The sound on the CD entitled “Mermaids” is modern, melodic and tasteful. The first track delivers a mellow climate with some heavy metal guitar riffs, sumptuous keyboards and opera-like female vocals along a propulsive beat. The second track blends modern electronic - and classical music featuring a slow beat, soaring strings and wonderful violin work. The third track contains a catchy beat with beautiful violin play and lots of fine synthesizer sounds. The final, very long track (almost 24 minutes) evokes the modern and more commercial Tangerine Dream, ranging from tender piano play to slow synthesizer flights, tasteful and melodic but you have to be up to this mellow and electronic sound.

www.metalmind.com.pl

[email protected]

Genre: Electronic Prog?